Toothbrush



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,693,229

V. FELMAR TOOTHBRUSH Filed Aug. 18, 1927 lQTTOB/VEY Patented Nov. 27,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application fil ed August 18, .1927. Serial No. 218,878.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement intooth-brushes and has for its chief object the provision, as a newarticle of manufacture, of a tooth-brush having two sets of bristles forthe efficient removal of foreign matter from between the teeth and thecleaning of both the lablal and lingual surfaces of the teeth.

And with such object in view, my invention resides in the provision of atooth-brush comprising a series of relatively fixed brlstles adaptedparticularly for cleaning engagement with the opposed surfaces of theteeth and a set of revolvable bristles adapted particularly to fit inand effect removal of forelgn matter from the interstices of the teeth,and In the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of atooth-brush embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan view of the brush, showing its forward endor tip sprung for receiving and engaging the revolvable set of bristles;

Figure 3 is a similar view of the brush, with its revolvable set ofbristles in supported, j ournaled position;

Figure 4 is a slightly enlarged transverse sectional view of therevolvable set of bristles and their supporting roller;

Figure 5 is a fragmental side elevational View of the brush, showing theworking or cleaning application of its revolvable set of bristles inconnection with a set of teeth; and

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmental plan views f a slightly modified form ofbrush embodying my invention, respectively showing the brush-head insprung bristle roller-receiving and in closed roller-engaging condition.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing,the brush A includes a body comprising, as is usual, a handle 1,shank 2,and head 3, formed preferably integrally of any suitable material, suchas, for instance, gutta-percha, bone, celluloid, or the like. Suitablyset in, and substantially forming partof, head 3 of the brush body, arelon gitudinally disposed rows of bristle-tufts 4 for cleaning engagementwith the opposed labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth. For purposesof present description, the bristles 4 may be said to be relativelyfixed w1th respect to the brush-head 3. At its forward or tip end, thebrush head 3 is preferably integrally provided with an arcuate extension5 formed laterally at its opposite side margins with a pair of vparallelears 6, 6, having registering or aligning recesses or apertures 7, 7, toreceive for rotation the trunnions 8, 8 of a roller B carrying oneormore sets of radially disposed bristles 9. Thus, as it might be said,the preferably arc-uate wall or head portion 5 and its ear-extensions 6,6, provide or form a bearing or journal for the bristle-roller B, whichroller is consequently rotatable in the longitudinal plane of the brush.

It will of course, be understood that roller B and its bristles 9 are ofsuch dimensions relatively to its supporting journal as to convenientlyfit therein for rotation, and to facilitate mounting of the bristleroller B, the brush-body at its wall 5 and head 3 is preferably kerfedlongitudinally, as at 10, for a suitable distance inwardly from the tipof the brush, whereby the portions a, a, of the so divided or splithead-wall 5 may be suitably spread, as by a tool 11, and the brush Bthen disposed in co-operative engageable relation by the ears 6 at therecesses or apertures 7, the ears 6, on such disposition of the roller Band removal of the tool 11, springing into engagement with theroller-trunnions 8 and the roller B being then efliciently rotatablysupported as a part or member of brush A. If desired and as shown inFigures 6 and'7, the brush-head 3 and its extension 5 may be angularlykerfed, as at 10, and the so formed port-ions b, b, of the split wall 5provided with interlocking prong or tooth 12 and recess 13 fordetachably securing the wallportions Z), I), together against accidentalseparation.

The bristle-roller B may be constructed in any suitable manner.Preferably, however, the body of roller B, which may be formed of hardrubber or other suitable material, is formed with an annular series ofdiametrically disposed ways a and the bristle members so projectedthrough such Ways and set in the roller-body that the opposite ends ofsuch members extend in opposed relation radially of the roller-body inthe production of suitable radiating bristle tufts. In this manner Ieconomize in the cost of production and facilitate the propercircumferential spacing of the bristle-tufts 9 at their free orouter-ends, itbeing desirable that the bristletufts 9 at their free ortooth engaging ends be circumferentially spaced a distance equalapproximately to the width of the usual tooth T.

Preferably also the tufts 9 are normally of usual V -shape at theirteeth engaging or free ends, and as so constructed and spaced, therevolvable tufts 9, in the application of the brush to and over theteeth T, are adapted to successivel and without interference, the one bythe ot 181', to first obliquely, then substantially at a right angle,and then again obliquely engage the several Successive teeth and thusnot onl clean the side surfaces of the several teeth, ut also more orless deeply enter the interstices of the teeth and effect the removaltherefrom of any foreign matter, as illustrated b dot and dash line inFigure 4, the brist es 4 functioning, as is usual, in the application ofthe brush in the removal of tartar and other foreign matter from theopposed surfaces of the teeth.

My new brush thus by means of its two sets of bristles eflicientlyperforms the two functions of cleaning the teeth and effecting removalof foreign matter from'between the teeth. The brush as a whole is ofsimple and inexpensive form and structure, and it will be evident thatthe bristle-carrying roller B may be readily removed or replaced. Asshown in Figure 2, the handle 1 is preferably formed with an obliquelydisposed open-end slot, as at 14, to facilitate suspending the brushfrom a hook or the like when the brush is not in use.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new brush may bemade and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a toothbrush comprising a head, anarcuate extension integrally projecting from the head, spaced earsintegrally depending from said extension, a roller disposed between andjournalled for rotation upon the ears, and a circumferential set ofradially projecting bristle-tufts carried by the roller and rotatable inthe longitudinal plane of the head.

2. In a tooth-brush, a body, a bristle-roller, and a bearing upon thebody for the roller, said bearing comprising an extension upon the bodyand spaced journal-ears depending from the extension, the body and saidextension being coincidentally split longitudinally for sprungsupporting engagement by the ears with the roller.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

vroron FELMAR.

